Method and apparatus for decorticating and scutching



E. L. PENDLETON METHOD ANDVAPPARATUS FOR DECORTICATING AND SGUTCHING Dec. 7, i926. 1,609,916

E.-L. PENDLETON METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DECORTICATING AND SCUTCHING Filed March z, 1925 s sheets-Shea 2 E. L. PENDLETON METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DECORTICATING AND SCUTCHING Filed March s, 1925 3 sheets-sheet .s

Patented Dec. 7, 1926. y

UNITED STATES EDWARD L. PENDLETON, OF LEXINGTON, KENTUCKY.

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DEGORTICATING AND SCUTCI-IING.

Application filed March 3, 1925.

rThis invention relates to an improved machine for treating fibrous materials or plants for the removal of the woody central portion from the fibrous outer bark.

The primary object of this invention is the provision of a decorticating or scutching machine embodying a novel arrangement of decorticating mechanisms adapted to act in a novel manner upon plants such as hemp, flax, jute, ramie, sisal, or the like, for the proper separation of the brous outer bark from the woody central portion.

A further object of this invention is the provision of a shiving or decorticating machine adapted to economically and expeditiously reclaim the valuable fiber portions of plants, without the attendant waste which is a characteristic of so many fiber treating machines.

A further object of this invention is the provision of a novel method of treating fibrous plants, to obtain the greatest yield onf fiber material, and to deliver the fibrous material in proper position for binding and handling.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent during the course of the following detailedy description;

In the drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown only a preferred embodiment of the improved deoorticating machine.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the improved decorticating apparatus. f

Figure 2 is an end elevation of the improved machine, showing' the entrance end of the machine, with certain partsv broken away to more clearly illustrate other parts.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary plan view of the improved machine, showing more particularly the details of the machine at the entrance end.

Figures 4 and 5 are cross sectional views taken substantially on their respective lines in Figure 1 of the drawings.

Figures 6, 7, and 8 are'cross sectional views taken transversely of the improved machine similar toFigure 5, showing more particularly different positions of al recortieating mechanism employed in the improved machine.

Figure 9 is a fragmentary'view, partly in section, showing an improved mechanism adapted to be used for the purpose of shaking fibers after the breaking of the same Serial No. 12.980.

to loosen the same from the woody central portions of the plants treated, and

Figure 10 is a side elevation of a movable type of breaking jaw employed in one of the decorticating mechanisms.

In the drawings, wherein similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, the letter A may generally designate the improved decorticating machine, which may include a. frame B; a first decorticating mechanism C at the entrance end of the machine A; and a second decorticating mechanism D for treatment of plants after passing through the decort-icating mechanism O. The first decorticating mechanism C preferably includes a conveyor structure E; breaker structure F; shaker mechanism G;and drive and operating means H. vrThe second mentioned decorticating mechanism D includes a conveyor structure K; breaker mechanism L; shaker means M; and drive or operating means N connected with the drive means H of the first mentioned decorticating mechanism C.

Theframe B may be of any approved construction, either woodl or metal, and in the preferred instance the same is rectangular, including the longitudinally extending supporting beams 10 and 11, connected at their forward and rear ends by means of cross beams 12. At the rear corners of the frame, vertical posts or standards 15 and 16 are provided, and between the ends of the longitudinal floor beams 10 and 11, vertical posts or standards 17 and 18 are provided. These posts or standards support transverse beams 19, and upon the transverse beams 19 the top longitudinal beams 20 and 21 are supported in spaced parallel relation; the spacing being less than the spacing of the floor beams 10 and 11. The rear ends of the top beams 2O and 21 project rearwardly of the plane iu which thev intermediate posts 1T and 18 lie, and are not supported at the eXtreme rear end of the frame B.

In connection with Vthe decorticating mecha nism C, an auxiliary frame-work is provided, supported by the longitudinal floor beams 10 and 11, and consisting. of the rearmostl corner posts 13 and 14, and vertical posts 22,' the posts 15 and 14 and 22 being of a height to terminate below the plane in which top beams 2() and 21 lie, for the purpose of supporting a platform structure 25, as a part of the decorticating mechanism C.' This platform structure comprises the side beams 26; which are supported by the posts i3, 4 and 22, and the extreme ends of said beams 26 project forwardly of the posts 22 for rotatably supporting a horizontal shaft 27 therein, as a connection for the convey-- ing means E and l to be subsequently meny tioned.

At the extreme rear end the beams 26 project rearwardly of the rear posts lf3 and i4, cantilever" fashion, and support the boards 29 of the platformthereon.

The conve yor means E preferably coinprises a pair of conveyors 80 and 3l, rotatably 'supported in spaced relation at opposite sides of the rear part of the machine, proiff'iding,l a spe e" 32 between thesame, within whichthe breaker mechanism L? operates. These conveyors 8O and 3l at their front ends are respectively supported upon rollers land 3G which are keyed to the shaft 27, and at their rear ends said conveyors` are rotatably supported upon idler rollers 37 d S8 carried by shafts 39, The platform 25 extends rearwardly of the rear ends of thee conveyors 30 and 3l, and includes a portion 4l which extends a slight way into' the space 32 between said conveyors, and as is illustrated in Figure Soi' the drawings. ,The conveyors 30 and 8l are thus horizontally disposed for movement between the beams 26, and the same are preferablyr provided with lugs or flights thereon which during the movement of the conveyors project slightly upwardly from the plane of the top surf'- ce of the platforn'i boards 29, in order to grasp the ends of stalks and' plants as the stalks and plants are fed from the plait-form 25 to thel conveyors 30 and 3l.

The breaker means E of the lirst decortieating mecii'anism C preferably includes an upper section or ljaw 45, which is stationary; the same preferably being ksupported by the rear ends of the beams 2O and 2l, as is illustrat-ed in Figures l and' 2 of the drawings. This stationary breaker section is sup ported by the means 4G, and upon the lower surtace thereof the saine is pro'if'ided with spaced blades 47 disposed in an' inclined or diagonal relation with respect to the longitudinal artis of the machine, and path of trayel of the plants or stalks. 'i he breaker mechanism E furthermore includes a movable j aw or section 49 which is pivoted as at 50 beneath the rear end of the platform 25, and which entends forwardly for connection to the operating mechanism H, as will be subsequentl y describec YUpon the upper surface of the free movin section 49, forwardly .of the pivot axis 50, said movable section or jaw 49 preferably supports blades 52 in upwardly entendimo,` relation, which are inclined atan acute angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the machine and the path or' travel of the plants thru the machine; these blades 52 being disposed in a meshing parallel relation between the blades 47 of the stationary section 45. The blades 47 anc 52, of course, operate in the space 82 between the conveyors, upon the Central portions of the stalks as they are fed by the conveyors along the machine, and. as will be subsequently described.

Referring at this time to the drive means H for the first decorticating` mechanism C, the same includes a main crank shaft 60, transversely supported at the lower rear corner et the frame B, by means of bearings 6l, which are preferably carried by the posts 22. @ne end of this cran-kshaft o0 eX- tends laterally of the frame B, and is provided with' a' pulley wheel 62,;.0'1 analogous element for drive of the said cra-nk shaft. Betweenv the ends of thecrank shaft the same is i'arefera'bly provi-ded' with a throw portion 63,' which is connected to a be'ari'nge64 at the free swingingv end ofthe breafker jaw 49 by means of ay connecting* rod 65, substantially after the mann-er illustrated in Figure 2 of the drawings. Y v

Referring to the shaker means G fo'r the first dec'ortica'ting mechanism C, the same preferably includes a shaker frame 70, carried in aplane between the stationary and movable breaker jaws' 45 andy 49, and which includes a plurali-ty of lingers 7l diagonally disposed.' and inparallel relation with the blades of the said breaker jaws. r)She frame furthermore includes a vertical reciprof eating rod 7 2, which is supported by inea-ns of bearing' 73 at the forward sid-ev of a cross beam 74 carried by the upper yendsV of the posts 22;v This vertically disposed reciprocating' rod portion 72 ,of the Vframe 7() at the lower end thereof is provided with a segmental cam engaging portion 75, providing a. concave cam surface 76 therein which receives an eccentric 77 keyed to the crank shaft G0 adjacent the throw portion G3 of said'crank shaft. This rod 72 is threaded for a portion thereon, above a bearing 8O which is carried by an intermediate cross beam' Si, disposed below the cr ss beam 74, and also carried between the posts A nut and washer mechanism 83 is carried .in adjustable manner on the threaded portion 79 of the Yrod portion 72, and between the same and the bearing 80 a compression spring S4 is provided whose compression may be adjusted by the nuty S5, and the func tion of which compression spring is to normally urge the frame 70 upwardly so that the lower end of thel cam segment engages the eccentric 77. The eccentric 77 is provided witli a sharp throw portion 86 thereon, which suddenly releases the frame 70 to send the same upwardly responsive to action ol" the spring 84, in order to quickly shake and agitate the crushed or broken portions of the stalks which, are fed between the jaws at the iirst decorticating mechanism C.

In the decorticatiiig mechanism D, the conveyor mechanism K thereof is disposed at the longitudinal axis of the frame B, and includes a pair of stationaryside plates and 86, supported at their rear ends on the shaft 27, and at their forward ends being supported by a shaft 88 which is carried by an upward and forwardly inclining supporting rod 89; said rod 89 at its lower end being attached to the lower cross beam 12 of the frame B. Between the plates 85 and 86v the conveyor belt 90 is supported, on rollers which are keyed to the shafts 27 and 88; the said belt 90 being of any approved type, and preferably including upwardly extending lugs or flights, as is illustrated in Figure 1 of the drawings. The plates 85 and 86 guard the flower strand of the belt 90, but permit the lugs or flights 92 to project upwardly above the upper edges of said plates, so that the same can grip the stalks or plants thereof and convey the same longitudinally of the frame or machine. At this point it will be well to mention that as the plants are conveyed through the first -decorticating mechanism C, they are crushed or broken between the ends thereof, so that as the same are conveyed from the conveyors 30 and 31 to the central conveyor mechanism K, they will bend between the ends thereof and droop inwardly in verticallyfinclining manner beneath the conveyor K, where the same may be operated upon by the vertically disposed breaker mechanism L of the second decorticating mechanism D.

The breaker mechanism L of the decortieating device D preferably comprises a pair of movable breaker jaws 95 and 96, carried at opposite sides of the central vertical plane of the conveyor K. These jaws are of analogous construction, each of the same preferably comprising a'pair of vertical lsupporting members 97, providing convex faces 98, which support blades 99 thereof in a slightly inclined or diagonal position with respect to the horizontal, preferably at an acute angle thereto. Flach of the aws 95 and 96 are provided witli a more closely spaced blade ai'- rangement at the rear end thereof than at the forward end, as is illustrated iii Figure 1 of the drawings, and this construction for each of the said jaws or breakers 95 :ind 96 comprises a support member 100 analogous to the support members 97, disposed parallel with and between the respective vertical support members 97, and which forms an end .support for the shorter blades 101 which are carried between the Caid intermediate supports 100 and the reai'most support 97, as is illustrated in Figure 1 of the drawings. The blades 99 and 101 thus present a conveX arrangement for each of the breaker jaws 95 and 96, and the said jaws in their movement are adapted to have a rocking env gagement at the convex faces thereof, so that face of the vertical support members 97. At

their upper ends arms or connecting members 105 arepivotally supported on shafts 108, upon brackets 109 which depend from the longitudinal top rails 20 and 21.

Referring now to the means of operating the jaws 95 and 96, said means M consists of a pair of shafts 110 and 111 repectively for the jaws 95 and 96, which are suitably carried by bracket portions or bearings 111a carried by the posts 15 and 16, 17 and 18 of the frame .15. Stub shafts 110 and 111 at their reaimostends are provided with beveled gears 114, and 115 respectively,which are in meshing relation with beveled gears 117 and 118 respectively keyed to the main drive shaft 60. Each of the shafts 110 and 111 is provided with a pair of throw portions 120, to which are connected the bracket portions 121 at the lower outside corners of the jaw supports 97, substantially after the manner illustrated. in Figure 5 of the drawings. It is readily apparent that upon rotation of the shafts 110 and 111, the jaws 95 and 96 will be moved into rocking engagement at their biaded faces tocrush and break the depending ends of the fibers or plants therebetween. f 7

The second decorticating mechanism D also includes a shaker apparatus if. which preferably consists in the provision ofa pair of elongated and substantially U-shapcd rods 125 and 126, pivotally supported at their forward upturned ends 127 on the supporting arm 89 at the forward end of the machine A, as is illustrated in Figure 1 of the drawings. At their rear upturncd ends 128 the said rods are pivotally supported in an approved bracket carried by the bcaii. 74,

substantially after the manner illustrated in Figure 9 of the drawings. The purpose 'of providing these two shaker men'ibers 125 and i 126 is that of shaking the pulp or woody part free from the fiber of the stalks or plants, as can readily be understood by aii v' one skilled in the ai't to which this invention relates. The shaker rods 125 and are ope rated from the reciprocating rod 72, as is illustrated in Figures l and 9 of the drawings, by means of providing a forward extension rigid with the rod 72, which at its upper end is pivotally connected to the portions 128'of the long shaker rods 125 and 126 by vmeans lof divergent links 136 and 187 respectively, as is illustrated in Figure -1 of the drawings. Thus, as the rod 72 reciprocates incident to the eccentric operation sov thereof from the .shaft 60, the same will cause the shaker rods 125 and 126 to oscillate back and forth and laterally shake the depending ends of the stalks hanging from the central conveyor.

Referring briefly to the cycle of operation and the method of treating the fibrous stalks or plants, the stalks are placed transversely of the machine, on the entrance platforni 25. They are fed onto the conveyors 30 and 31 with the intermediate portions thereofextending across the space 32, and the said conveyors 30 and 3l convey the same forwardly the intermediate portions of the stalks will be crushed and broken between the breaker jaws 45 and 49. The conveyors 30 and 31 are preferably operated at the desired rate of speed by means of a chain connection 140 between the crank shaft 60 and the conveyor shaft 27. The intermediate portions of the stalks are thoroughly crushed, and at the interval between the lifting movement of the jaws 47 and 49, the eccentric 77 of the shaft 60 comes into play to cause release of the eccentric engaging end 76 of the rod 72, so that the spring 84 will snap the frame 7() quickly upwardly against the crushed intermediate portions of the stalks, causing the pulp or woody portion of the plants and stalks to shake free from the fabric portions. At the end of the movement of the stalks upon the conveyor belts of the conveyor means E, the stalks leave the first decorticating mechanism C, and are engaged by the belt of the longitudinal central conveyor K. As the stalks are broken between their ends they drop laterally at each side of the conveyor K, in substantially a vertical position, and are carried forwardly of the machine A by means of the conveyor K, between the jaws and 96 of the breaker means L of the second decorticating mechanism D. The ends of the stalks are thus lowermost, and since they are unbroken, by reason of having been carried along the conveyors 30 and 531, the blades 99 of the jaws 95 and 96 will first engage the same, and rock over them. rllhe stalks will be thoroughly crushed as the vertical ends of the stalks enter the more closely spaced arrangement of the blades 99 and lOl. The action of the jaws 95 and 96 may best be seen from the cycle of operation of the jaws, illustrated in Figures 5, 6, 7 and 8. The aws may be said to permit the entrance of the vertically disposed portions of the stalks whichrare suspended from the conveyor K, as is illustrated in Figure 6, when the jaws are wide apart. As the crank Vshafts and lll continue to rotate, the

jaws 95 and 96 will first come together at the top ends thereof, as is illustrated in Figure 7, and the said jaws or breakers will have a rolling contact from this upper arrangement'towards the lower ends of said jaws to the position illustrated in Figure 8, thus pressing' the stalks from the upper ends to the lower ends by means of crushing them between the meshing blades of the said jaws. The final and released position of the stalks or plants from the jaws or breakers 95 and 96 is illustrated in Figure 4. During the progressive movement of thestalks along the conveyor K, the shaker rodsl25 and 126 are of course active in oscillating against the depending portions of the stalks, thoroughly shaking the same free from the pulp or woody portions which has been crushed from the fibers or bark thereof. The shaking of the vertical ends of the fibers on the conveyor K isy occasioned at the release of the fibers by the jaws 95 and 96. V This action of the shakers also maintains the fibers straight. The reclaimed fibers are delivered at the front end of the machine, properly broken and cleaned, and in the most desirable manner, with the fibers doubled upon themselves, at the central portions thereof, making a hank so to speak, which may be easily handled, and not easily tangled.

From the foregoing description of this invention it will be apparent that an improved decorticating machine has been provided, which while the same is relatively simple in character, is highly practical for use in connection with the scutching of fibrous plants or stalks. In many sections of the Vcountry farmers refuse to raise certain crops, such as hemp and flax, the fiber of which is desirable, because of the scarcity of labor'to harvest and treat the same. A machine possessing the practical characteristics of thismachine is there-fore an economic necessity both to the farmer and the country at large, in view of the low cost entailed by cleaning of fibrous plants by the same.

Various changes in the shape,.size, and arrangement of parts may be made to the form of invention herein shown and described, without departing from the Vspirit of the same or the scope of the claims.

I claim:

l. That method of treating fibrous plants which consists in breaking the same between the ends thereof, doubling the same upon themselves, and breaking and cleaning the ends thereof.v

2. That method of decortieating fibrous plants which consists in breaking and cleaning the said plants at the central portions thereof, doubling each plant upon itself by bending in the center so that the. unbroken end portions are adjacently disposed, and then breaking and cleaning the endV portions thereof simultaneously.

3. 'lhat method of treating fibrousplants which consists in breaking the plants at the central portions thereof, shaking the plants at the central portions thereof to free said central portions of pulp, breaking the end portions of said plants outwardly ofsaid central portions, and shaking said end portions to free the same of pulp, Y

et. That method of treating fibrous plants for reclaiming the fibrous material thereof which consists in breaking the intermediate portions of each of said plants, shaking the intermediate portions of said plants to free the same of pulp and Woody central portions, bending said fibrous plants upon themselves to double them at their central portions so that their uncleaned and unbroken end portions are disposed in adjacent relation, and breaking and cleaning the said adjacently disposed end portionsl free of pulp and woody central material.

5. In a decorticating machine' for treating fibrous plants the combi-nation of a irst decorticating mechanism for crushing and shaking the intermediate portions of the plants, and a second decorti'cating mechanism for receiving the plants after they have been treated by the first decorticating mechanism to crush and shake the end portions of said plants.

6. In a machine for treating ibrous plants to free the pulp from the fibrous portions to be reclaimed., a pair of jaws adapted to crush the plants therebetween, a shaker for the plants operating between the jaws, and means for operating the shaker at intervals between the crushing movements of said jaws.

7. In a decorticating machine for treating brous plants the combination of a frame, conveyor means, breaker means including jaws, means for moving the jaws with respect to each other, and blades carried by said jaws at their facing sides disposed obliquely with respect to the path of movement of the plants by said conveyor means.

8. In a decorticating machine for treating fibrous plants the combination of a frame, conveyor means, breaker means including jaws, means for moving the jaws with respect to each other, blades carried by said jaws at their facing sides disposed obliquely with respect to the pathof movement of the plants by said conve-yor means, and shaker means operable at intervals between the crushing movements of said aws including a plurality of blades obliquely disposed with respect to the path of movement ofthe plants by said conveyor means.

9. In a decorticatingA machine the combination of a frame, a plant conveyor, a Crusher arrangement including jaws with blades obliquely disposed with respect to the path of movement of the plants by said conveyor means, and shaker means adapted to act upon the plants at intervals between the crushing movementsof the jaws of .said breaker means for shaking the pulp free from the crushed bers.

l0. In a decorticating machine the combination of a frame, a pair of spaced conveyors adapted to receive the ends of plants thereon for conveying the intermediate portions of `said plants over the space between said conveyors and crushing means operable in the space between said conveyors for crushing the intermediate portions of the plants as they are so conveyed.

ll. Ina decorticating machine the combination of a frame, a pair of spaced conveyors adapted to receive the ends of plants thereon for conveying the intermediate portions of said plants over the space between said conveyors, and crushing means operable the space" between said conveyors for crushing the intermediate portions of the plants as they are so conveyed, and shaker means operable in said space at intervals between the crushing movements on said plants to shake the pulp free from the ibers of the plants. i

12. In a decorticating machine the combination of a conveyor, means for feeding plants onto the conveyor bent between their ends so that the ends of the plants hang from the conveyor in adjacent relation, breaker jaws operable to crush the ends of the plants depending from said conveyor, and shaker means operable at the intervals of crushing action on the ends of said plants for shaking the pulp free from the fibers.

13. In a decorticating machine for treating fibrous plants the combination of a irst decorticating mechanism for horizontally receiving said plants and embodying means to crush the central portions thereof, and a second decorticatingmechanism embodying conveyor means to receive the crushed central portions of said plants .so that they hang in a vertical plane from said conveyor means, said second decorticating mechanism embodying crushing and cleaning means for freeing the woody central portion from the fibrous portions of said plants.

14. In a decorticating mechanism the combination of a frame, a pair of spaced horizontal conveyors for horizontally receiving the ends of fibrous plants thereon with the central portions of said plants disposed in the space between said conveyors, breaking and cleaning means operating in the space between said conveyors for crushing and cleaning the central portions of said plants as they are horizontally conveyed by said conveyor, a central conveyor extending from said first mentioned conveyor to receive the plants from the last mentioned conveyors'at the central portions thereof whereby said plants will fall into vertical adjacent position at the ends thereof, and breaking and cleaning means operating on the ends of said plants as they are conveyed along said central conveyor.

l5. In a decorticating mechanism the combination of a frame, a conveyor carried by the frame, means for feeding plants onto the conveyor in depending vertical relation therefrom, a pairV of arcuate blade-d crushing jaws, and means for rocking both of said bladed crushing jaws npon each other with the depending portions of the plants therebetween for crushing said plants.

16. In a decorticating mechanism the combination of a frame, a conveyor carried by the frame, means for feeding plants onto the conveyor in depending vertical relation therefrom, bladed crushing jaws, means for rocking said bladed crushing aws upon each other with the depending portions of ythe plants therebetween for crushing said plants, and means operating between the crushing movement of the jaws for shaking said plants after crushing of the saine for freeing the pulp from the fiber thereof, l

17. In a decorticating machine the combination of a frame, Crusher j aws, means for operating the Crusher jaws to crush fibrous plants therebetween.l a shaker between said Crusher jaws, and means for operating the shaker cooperatively connected with said means for operating the .shaker at intervals between the crushing movements of said jaws.

1,87. In a machine of the class described the combination of a conveyor mechanism including a frame and a Conveyor belt, means for sentching the 'libere between their ends and feeding them in depending doubled relation upon said conveyor belt', Crusher and cleaner mea/DS for the depending ends of said plants, and shaker means disposed between the depending portions of the plants adapted to agitate the plantsl after the same are crushed for freeing the pulp from the fiber thereof. i

19.. In a decorticating machine the combnatin Q f a Gemey-0r, a pair of nvotally mounted segmental shaped c rusher jaws hav'- ing convex bladed crushing faces, and means for synchronously operating said jaws for a crushing rockingl action on each other thru a limited arc of movement.

20,. In a decorticating machine the combination of a conveyor, means for breaking plants intermediate their ends in advance of the conveyor, means for feeding the plants onto the .conveyor at their intermediate broken portions so that the plants bend at said intermediate broken portions and have their ends depending in'vertical adjacent substantially parallel relation, and breaker jaws for receiving the depending portions of said plants therebetween as the plants are carried by said conveyor for crushing the end portions of said plants.

EDWARD L. PENDLICTON. 

